“Brown, Murtha, & Vogel,” May 3 through June 21

Through Friday, June 21

Quad City Arts Center, 1715 Second Avenue, Rock Island IL

With their artistic creations elevating “those who have come before” whether in their subject matter, their artform’s technique, or even the way in which they speak about their work, a trio of gifted talents join forces for the latest exhibition at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center, the venue's Brown, Murtha, & Vogel exhibition, on display through June 21, treating patrons to paintings by Julie Brown, quilts by Diane Murtha, and fiber art by Jeane Vogel.

Julie Brown, once an abstract painter, has begun creating realistic paintings based on antique photographs. The photos to which she is drawn feature human faces and are often informal images taken by amateur photographers. Brown’s work highlights the timelessness of our humanity and aims to give her audience a glimpse into the past. As Brown says in her artist statement: "I started collecting antique and vintage photographs when I was an abstract painter, long before it occurred to me to use them as subject matter. Perhaps I was drawn to them through childhood memories of my great-grandfather, who would sometimes show me a photograph of his one-room school classmates and teacher in Edinburg, Illinois, and tell me stories about them. The photos I work from are often informal images, created by amateurs, of people who are unknown, unnamed and no longer living. What they have in common is a certain psychological presence or the implication of a relationship that resonates with me. We live in a more modern era, but I believe the psyche is timeless. The images reward my close looking, especially during the process of painting. I often feel as if I am in a dialogue with my subjects but ultimately one can never answer the many questions they raise."

Diane Murtha is an award-winning quilter, fiber artist, author, and international lecturer and instructor. Quilting for more than 50 years, she gravitated to art quilts and discovered she loves challenges. Her quilts and articles are included in books, 30-plus magazines, and multiple juried exhibits and international shows. Murtha published her first book, Artful Insights in Fiber: Quilted Bits of Wit & Wisdom, in March of 2023, and she currently resides in Iowa. 

Jeane Vogel, in her artist statement, says, " I am multi-media artist working in tapestry, fiber, mixed media, and photography. Issues of cultural identity, justice, feminine strength, and connection to antiquity are central to my art practice. My work often responds to the world about me and incorporates traditions that are common to many cultures. Fiber work, especially woven tapestry, attempts a calm and meditative practice. I see tapestry as a conceptual narrative art form, telling stories through symbols, colors, and patterns that evoke memories, stir emotions, and spark ideas. The COVID series is a physical narrative of the time during which it was designed and woven. Woven between March 2020 and March 2024, a total of 23 works reflect a commentary on the moment, reflecting each stage of our common experience. Each tapestry addresses a different stage and related emotions – sadness, fear, frustration, hope, determination, and a collective experience in which everyone is affected in one way or the other."

Brown, Murtha, & Vogel will be on display at the Quad City Arts Center Gallery in Rock Island through June 21, regular gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. For more information, call (309)793-1213 and visit QuadCityArts.com.